Trustees and Chair/Co-Chair of the Board

Who we are

The Association of Senior Children’s and Education Librarians (ASCEL) is the national network of senior leaders in children’s, public and schools library services. We provide training, peer support, best practice, resources and networking initiatives that enable our members to give children and young people a dynamic, inclusive and innovative library experience. We’re a young, forward thinking charity, which is eager to develop and grow.

Chair/Co-chair

We are looking for our next chair/co-chair of the board to take the charity forward through the next three years, after our current chair stands down in December 2025.

If you are interested in joining our friendly and committed board, please take a look at our Trustee pack. Further information is available on our website.

You’ll have excellent communication and leadership skills and will be able to work effectively with the small executive team to deliver the charity’s vision. Previous experience of chairing a board is desirable but not mandatory, as we will offer support.

Trustees

We’re also looking for trustees to join our board from a variety of different backgrounds and a number of different skill sets, including:

• Finance skills – to be part of and/or chair the Finance Committee
• Equality, diversity and inclusion experience – including diverse lived experience or a track record in community engagement and amplifying children and young people’s voices – to be part of and/or chair the People and Culture Committee
• Research and evaluation skills – to help guide ASCEL through a number of upcoming research projects
• Communication skills – we’re looking for strategic communication and charity brand development
• Small charity management skills – of a small or medium charity
• Commercial development experience – including contracts, growing revenue and/or membership
• Strategic planning skills – experience of strategic planning and organisational development.

We actively encourage applications from people who do not have a professional background in libraries and from experts by experience. We want everyone who believes they can contribute to charity’s Board of Trustees to feel welcome to apply and we particularly welcome applications from people aged under 35, Black, Asian and ethnic minority candidates and D/deaf and disabled people.

If you have one or more of these skills or lived experiences, we’d love to hear from you.

The closing date for completed applications is midday 2nd June 2025.

We look forward to hearing from you!